Issue No. 591
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20 - 26 June 2002 Issue No. 591 People |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Recommend this page | ||
Last week, my dears, I was delighted to attend two of my favourite events in the world -- the graduation ceremonies at the American University in Cairo (AUC).
Graduation day at AUC: Ahmed Shawqi (left) and Nesrine Wahish (right) receive their diplomas
On Wednesday I was in Ewart Hall for the commencement ceremony for graduate students, where it was heart warming to see so many familiar faces, such as Soheir Kansouh-Habib, president of the Association of Former International Civil Servants and her husband Tarek Habib, attending the graduation of their daughter Rasha Habib, who received her Masters of Arts in Sociology. Shawqi Farag, head of AUC's Accounting Department and director of the Egyptian Banking Institute, could be seen beaming on stage as his son Ahmed Shawqi received his Masters in Public Administration. Cheering Ahmed on from the audience were his mother, musician Valerie Farag, herself recently retired from AUC, and his sister, our very own Features Editor Fatemah Farag, who is also teaching at AUC's Journalism and Mass Communication Department. Also amongst the crowd was the Weekly's senior economics reporter Niveen Wahish, who was there to cheer on her sister, Nesrine Wahish, who graduated with a Masters in Management. Al-Ahram Weekly itself was represented by our very own distinguished Willa Thayer, who graduated with a Masters in Sociology.
The next day, but this time at the Conference Centre in Nasr City, I was at the AUC's 79th commencement ceremony for undergraduate students -- the largest, I was told, in the institution's history, with 386 students being awarded degrees. This year also featured honourary doctorates being awarded to both internationally acclaimed Egyptian movie director Youssef Chahine and John Gerhart, who also gave an inspiring key-note speech and is currently ending his term as president of AUC. Of course any mention of these events would be incomplete if I did not salute the efforts of my dear friend Nagwa Shoeb, head of AUC's Public Relations Office who has been working tirelessly for weeks to make everything no less than perfect.
Among those who graduated this semester were Yasmine Gamal Anwar El-Sadat, granddaughter of the late president Anwar El- Sadat, as well as daughter of the current minister of petroleum Samar Sameh Fahmy, as well as Reem Mohie Ahmed Nafie granddaughter of Al-Ahram's very distinguished political writer Ahmed Nafie.
And among the throngs of excited graduates I spied Marian Samuel, Paulette Kirolos, Salma Aclimandos, Nora Wissa and Amir Nader Riad. Congratulations to everyone!
Next Sunday, dears, will certainly find me at the Egyptian Centre for International Cultural Cooperation in Zamalek. Why? For an exhibition of paintings, graphics, press illustrations, caricatures and sculptures titled "Brush and Chisel" by one of my dearest colleagues, the gifted caricaturist Nagui Kamel. The exhibit will be inaugurated by the first Under- Secretary of State for Foreign Cultural Relations at the Ministry of Culture Cherif El-Shoubashi, and will run through 4 July.
Tomorrow, 21 June, is International Music Day, my sweets, an occasion which is celebrated, annually, worldwide. This year, the Cairo Opera House is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the event at its Main, Small and Open-Air theatres, as well as the complex's gardens.The celebrations will begin in the afternoon and last until midnight, including 11 concerts featuring the Mohamed Fawzi troupe, oud player Georges Kazazian and his group, Al-Ghouriya and Al- Ganoubi troupes, among others. Also taking part are 72 musicians and 23 singers, in addition to members of the Cairo Opera Company and Choir.
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